DANBURY – Looking for a new pet?

The Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) always has dozens of dogs and cats available for placement into responsible homes. DAWS maintains its own shelter in Bethel and also provides adoption services for the dogs housed at the City of Danbury dog pound.

The DAWS adoption process is designed to match up the animals with the most appropriate home. As a non-profit, private agency, DAWS’ staff and volunteers invest a lot of time, money and love in every animal.

In general –

Do some research and planning before making the decision to add a pet to your home. Ask yourself, is now a good time for your family to add a dog to your home? Think about what age, size and temperament of dog would best suit your lifestyle. Decide if you are ready to take on the daily responsibilities and financial obligations of pet ownership. If you decide you are ready to adopt a pet.

Check out the DAWS pets online (www.daws.org) and visit the shelter. The shelter has very limited ‘open’ adoption hours since it is being run by volunteers who have other work responsibilities. An Open House at the Bethel Shelter is held every Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 4 pm. However, private appointments for adopters are frequently arrange during the week for those seeing a specific dog or dogs.

Call us at 894-1442 to speak to an adoption representative who can answer your questions about dogs you see on the website.

Fill out an adoption application and speak to an adoption counselor. If you find a pet you are interested in adopting, you will be asked to fill out an adoption application (to save time, you may download the form and bring it with you when you come to the shelter). An adoption counselor will review your application to make sure this particular dog would be a good match for you and your family. DAWS may take up to three applications on a particular dog while it gets them ready for adoption, and then DAWS will select the home it feels is the best match for that particular animal. Dogs generally do not go home the same day applications are submitted.

DAWS will process your application, which involves calling a veterinary reference (if applicable) and personal reference. Permission from your landlord to have a dog, or proof of home ownership (a mortgage statement or water/sewer bill) will also be required. If everything looks okay …

Finalize the adoption. Adoption fees for dogs is usually between $125 and 150, but is subject to vary if veterinary costs for the animal have been extraordinary or if the dog is part of a special program that has incurred additional expenses. Puppies are usually $200. Adoption fees are non-refundable donations which include the pre-adoption spaying or neutering of the dog, relevant vaccines including rabies and distemper, a heartworm test and wormings.

Adopters will be asked to sign an adoption contract, agreeing to comply with certain standards of care for the dog. If for whatever reason you encounter problems with your new pet that cannot be solved after consultation with our behaviorists, you are required to return the dog to DAWS and not transfer ownership to a third-party.

Hit Hard

The dog program at DAWS has been hit hard in the last six weeks with several emergency medical cases that have completely exceeded its budget. DAWS needs help raising funds for this veterinary care so it can pay for these cases and continue to provided needed medical attention to other animals.

In early February, Charlotte suffered from a serious and life-threatening vaginal prolapse. The veterinarian had to perform a lengthy and expensive abdominal surgery to try to repair the damage. She spent over a week hospitalized at the veterinary hospital and is now confined to a crate at the shelter for the next month until she heals. Bills so far for Charlotte exceed $1500.

On February 14, Kevin came down with a serious intestinal virus. He had to be hospitalized at an emergency clinic for the weekend, given intravenous fluids and medications. He could pull through, but his condition is grave. Bills so far for Kevin are $960.

On February 16, Viggo was hospitalized with a possible obstruction. Bills for Viggo are estimated to reach $800.

If you can help, contact DAWS at 894-1442 or visit the web site at www.daws.org.

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